London to offer free school meals to all primary pupils for a year

[Eastie77Returns]

Reported in the Guardian and apparently will begin in September.

Two questions spring to mind: a) why is this only happening in London and b) wouldn’t it make more sense to target this and increase the ridiculous limit for free dinners (households with an income above £7k do not qualify) rather than giving every single child, including those from affluent families, free meals?

I'm amazed they're even getting teachers to work there as most teachers can't possibly afford to work there unless they bought houses years ago and having been teaching for years

The next General Election is around then too. Let's hope the Tories follow Khan's example.

Baffled about the poster claiming extra costs.
They know that lunch is already being provided in schools, by pre-existing staff, in pre-existing infrastructure?
In the U.K., there is lunch - it's not Germany.
This isn't introducing the concept of a cooked meal - just subsidising it, so all children have a free meal.

Which works - it removes the stigma of free meals, which increases take-up by poorer families. And catches a lot of lower-income, working-poor families, who are currently hammered by quite stringent thresholds.

I think this should just happen to all children regardless of family income. Just makes it easier (and for parents, no more making lunch). I'd be very keen on this myself

I was in primary school in London in the 90s and everyone had free hot lunches every year.

Disagree. Some people are useless parents no matter what, at least this way the child gets fed. Don't be so naive.

I’m not sure this is a vote winner.

Some people will like it but quite a few others will see it as a waste of money.

While energy prices are so high and people can't afford to have the oven on, free school dimers make a lot of sense.

What is supplied already? Do they supply free milk each day? Or fresh fruit? It can be educational for kids of all socio-economic groups to eat healthy food together a few times a week.

Actually, I think what that poster is suggesting is scrapping school meals in total and replacing the provision with supermarket vouchers.

😮

Super-market vouchers are such a bad idea.

School lunches are provided in the U.K. because the mass production reduces costs in toto. Even for families that pay.

And they're very convenient.

I think, poster, you'd find your policy idea sank like a stone.

Anyway, this is a great idea. And has been popular in the Council areas that have introduced it.

It will at least make things a little easier for teachers with primary aged children to live and work in London.

its a ridiculous cost whoever is paying. If you are paying £2.50 for a school meal for your child, they are getting less than £1 of actual food.

As a teacher I have never had a child opt for school dinners, because of the cost and the poor quality. Most teachers who see the dinners on sale at schools, provide packed lunches for their children at basically half the price, with less waste

well, no, having food available does not mean that every child eats anyway.

And if parents are not feeding their children at home, there needs to be ways of dealing with that, whether the child gets free school meals or not

Great idea. I hope it is taken up in the rest of the country soon.

It doesn't reduce the cost - it is like a cafe - food in a cafe is likely well over twice the price of food at home, because you are paying for staffing, space and profit, all on top of paying for food.

On top of it being very expensive, the level of waste is utterly shocking, more than half probably ends up in the bin in an average school dining hall

This is already the case in a number of boroughs and works very well. I’m very pleased about the proposal and hope it’s eventually introduced nationwide. Children fed, no stigma, lower admin costs.

So my council tax went up again this year so the rich kids in neighbourhood can eat shit food for free? Great

What happens with pupil premium in the boroughs that have already started offering FSM for all? Do they manage to get all eligible parents to still apply for FSM?

No, it came out of unexpected income from business rates.

Interesting piece about on Today programme on radio a few minutes ago. Similar schemes in Sweden etc very successful.

Most of the price you pay for supermarket food goes on staffing, buildings and transportation of goods.

Or do you think the staff in supermarkets, in food factories and on farms are all volunteers?

Business rates in all London? Or just central. My business rates are through the roof I'll go bust if they increase again to find another hair-brained idea!

This could be a disaster for schools if the money doesn't cover the actual cost and schools have to make up the difference.

Catering company for my school recently put up costs and LA is refusing to cover the rise for our free school meals children. It's going to cost the school £10k a year. If we have to fund the difference for all our children then the school budget is fucked.

i have mixed views on this. London being London there is a high percentage of parents who don’t need it at all and aren’t eligible for children’s benefit let alone FSMs. I admit I am one of those who wouldn’t even notice a schools meals bill as long as it’s on DD. I realise how lucky I am but so are many others in London.
Equally the high street is being decimated by high business rates. I spoke to a devastated hairdresser who is shutting after years as business rates have become unaffordable. The entire staff are low looking for new jobs and trying to pay the mortgage.
Surely there’s a sweet spot here that looks after hungry children while still promoting business and the people running them.